Mice & Keyboards by stefan @ 2013-04-30
After a lot of waiting, we are happy to see the new products from Func, which include the MS-3 gaming mouse with an ergonomic shape, but also the revised Surface 1030 mouse pad, coming in two different sizes.
At first we would like to thank Func for offering a sample of their latest MS-3 Gaming Mouse, along with the Surface 1030 XL mouse pad.
“We redefined the gaming experience. It's time to make history once again.
Func will once again redefine the gaming experience with cutting edge products to make history for a second time. In 2012, Func decided it was time to revamp the look and feel of the brand and give it a fresh image. But bringing Func back to you is so much more than cosmetic changes, it’s about enhancing your gaming experience in a more meaningful way. We want to make a difference in performance, just like we did back in the day, and we want to do it in an honest and trustworthy way.
What looks simple and obvious to the untrained eye is, to us, a complex challenge. The term “ergonomics” is very commonly used today. Did you know that we spent more than 100 hours studying the human hand and how the mouse body can be improved? Not to mention the hours spent on testing the perfect placement of the buttons. Did you know that we have tested more than 200 different surface materials in search of the perfect tracking conditions?
There are no shortcuts in this business and functionality kicks in where simplicity doesn’t make any sense. We believe that your performance (besides your personal skills and training) can only be enhanced by the usability of the functions and not simply by a bunch of fancy gimmicks marketed as revolutionary product development. They make you buy it but it doesn’t give you any advantage at all.
How it started
It all started back in 1999 in sunny California. A bunch of passionate gamers and friends got fed up with computer gear not cutting it. Like anyone serious about gaming, these guys decided it was time for action. They were visionaries, free thinkers and entrepreneurs. Their goal was set, and the history of computer gaming was about to change.
Their goal was to create computer gear designed for gamers, by gamers. Fantastic equipment made with the sole purpose of enhancing the experience of playing a great game, rather than diminishing it.
For the first time gamers had set the standards and the result blew the market away. When Func released their first product, it hit the market in a spectacular way. The double-sided Func sUrface 1030 Mouse pad won awards from nearly every major site and magazine in the industry. The Func sUrface 1030 had a huge impact on the industry; it changed the way computer products were designed and manufactured, and it changed the view on gamers and the gaming community.”
Ergonomically designed Grip Intelligence
The MS-3 is ergonomically designed to minimize hand strain and stress in order to allow you to keep your eyes on the screen and not on your grip.
Built to last with the best components available
This mouse is built to last with only high-end components paired up with a 2 years warranty.
Customizable LED-light system with profile indication
Apply any of the 16.8 million colors individually or simply turn the LEDs off. The LED system can be used as a profile indicator or simply to match up your mouse with the other peripherals on your desk.
Unique T+4 thumbzone button placement for more accurate gameplay
When you find yourself in a critical play movement, the importance of easy accessible buttons and an optimized Thumbzone is crucial to avoid miss-clicks.
Advanced macro editor records up to 20 actions live
The macro editor handles real time recordings and is able to save up to 10 commands in one macro and a total of 60 macros; reachable from any profile.
MCU/Processor: WT6573
Switches: Omron
Sensor: Avago ADNS 9500
Memory: Onboard, 512 kB
Resolution: 90-5670 DPI
Frames per second: 12 000
Tracking speed: 5.1 m/sec (150 ips)
Max Acceleration: 30 g
Image processing: 10.6 megapixels/sec
Report rate: Adjustable, up to 1000Hz
Lift-off distance: Adjustable
Upgradable firmware: Yes
Connection: USB. Goldplated (2 m braided cable)
126.92x100.69x42.38mm / 4.99x3.97x1.69in
Netto weight: 127g / 0.28lbs.
The original dual sided mouse surface concept
Giving you the choice between two sides, both offer a unique experience of traction, consistency and precision.
Large rubber feet
The large rubber feet ensure a firm grip on any surface no matter what the material.
Easy to keep clean
Easy to clean; housing and mouse pad are washable
Surface material: Polycarbonate
Surface type: F30.r / F10.s
Size: 36x28 cm / 14x11 in
Weight: 422 gr / 0.93 lbs
Thickness: 4 mm / 0.16 in
Func is one of the first companies which reinvented the mouse pad for gaming purposes; the double-sided Func sUrface 1030 mouse pad (released in 2000) was approved by many gamers and has won lots of awards online and at major magazines. After a lot of time in stand-by, the company has released a new series of mouse pads and also a gaming mouse, which is called MS-3.
The product is shipped inside a cardboard box with a really clean and professional design; on the front we will see the company logo along with the product code name:
By lifting the top cover we will discover the mouse, which is covered by a transparent plastic mold:
On the back side we will get more details regarding the main components:
Besides the mouse itself, we will also get a Product Manual and the disk with software:
Inside the Manual, we will find enough information to get things started:
When looking at the mouse from the top, we will clearly see that it has quite a large footprint. The top surface is fully covered with a rubbery surface which feels good even after long gaming sessions:
On the left side of the mouse, we will see four programmable buttons. The top ones are initially defined as Forward-Backward, the bottom one as Mute and the small, circular one as Instant Aim:
The Instant Aim button will help getting the DPI to a very low value in order to take precise shots:
Both top and bottom buttons are easy accessible:
Near the front, we will see a smaller Func logo:
The right side of the mouse was designed in such a way so we will have optimal comfort for our ring and little fingers:
Here is also a view of the back side of the mouse:
When looking at the front side of the mouse we will discover an additional small programmable button near the right click button, which is initially set to browse through available profiles:
Near the LED-lighted scroll wheel, we will find two more buttons, which can be used to navigate through the DPI steps:
On the back side of the mouse, we will find four feet, which will help the mouse to glide smoothly on the surface we will put it on and in the center we have the Avago ADNS 9500 laser sensor, with a resolution between 90 and 5670 DPI:
As we have seen on many high end gaming mouse, the cable is fully braided:
For acquiring an optimal contact, Func has used a golden USB connector:
When plugging in the MS-3 for the first time, both the scroll wheel and the Instant Aim button will light up in the default colors:
In a small space between the top surface of the mouse and the left lateral, we will find some red LEDs, which will represent the DPI step we are currently in:
Both the scroll wheel and the Instant Aim buttons can be customized with the color of our choice:
The mouse has been also shipped with the largest version of the Surface 1030, XL format. It is worth to mention that the box was fully sealed on the outside with transparent plastic:
On the back side of the enclosure, which, by the way, sports the same elegant design as the mouse packaging, we will find more details regarding the pad main components:
After raising the top cover, we will find a small leaflet which will instruct us to register by creating a Func Insider Account:
The mouse pad can be easily removed from the foam mold:
The included document does have recommendations about the pad installation, cleaning procedure and how to access support:
A small company history and product description can be also found here:
The latest version of the Surface product is made from two main components: the pad itself and a rigid plastic frame, which acts as a dock:
One of the surfaces comes with a rough finish, in order to obtain maximum precision; the bottom right side includes the product logo:
Here is also a closer look at the joining of the pad with the plastic frame:
The mouse pad can be easily removed from the dock by using the two bottom holes:
By flipping the pad on the other side, we did find a much smoother surface, this time optimized for speed:
The product logo is located in the same area:
On the back side of the dock we will find multiple rubber feet, so the mouse pad won’t move from its place during long gaming sessions:
In the center we will find another recessed Func logo:
The Func MS-3 Settings Software comes with the same color scheme as the packaging. The interface is split on multiple tabs like Basic Settings, Button Assignment or Color Settings. On the top we have the profiles and also two buttons for making backups or restore previously saved profiles. From the Button Settings tab, we will be able to select a specific X/Y axis DPI for each step, adjust the pointer sensitivity, the double click speed, the lift distance, the scroll speed or polling rate. On the bottom we can also enable Angle snapping or pointer acceleration. The Instant Aim buton has an initial value of 90DPI (lowest possible):
From the Button Assignment tab, we will be able to set different functions for all the buttons:
Here are the functions in detail that we can assign for each button:
Default Commands
Windows Commands
Media Functions
The Color Settings section is pretty advanced, since we can set independent lighting options for both scroll wheel and also the Instant Aim button:
The advanced macro editor handles real-time recordings and can save up to 10 commands in one macro and a total of 60 macros, reachable from any profile:
After testing the MS-3 mouse in multiple applications and games, we can say that its special design is quite comfortable during multiple hours of use; because of its ergonomic body, we won’t hold back and recommend it even for office usage environments and web browsing. What we found interesting was the fact the scroll wheel needed more pressure in order to register a click compared to the other mice we have looked upon so far; because of this, if we do not place our hand properly on the mouse, pressing the middle mouse button will seem a little difficult.
The product also comes with a proven Avago laser sensor which allows setting a maximum DPI of 5670. However, the manufacturer has not chosen to use the latest available Avago 9800 which allows a whopping 8200DPI.
MS-3 does not feature a custom weight system, not that it would need one, since it already has about 127 grams.
The MS-3 system software installer is one of the fastest we have seen yet and the GUI is really easy to get used to. The lighting system can be customized separately and we can also define macros. What we did like was the fact that all the mouse buttons were programmable and none of them was locked to a specific mapping.
The Func 1030XL is quite large for normal-sized home desktops but it is ideal for LAN-parties (that is why we also have a smaller design available too). Thanks to the double-sided feature, we can switch in a snap from one to another depending on the preference.
The Func MS-3 can be found online for about 70 Euros and at this price range we can say that it has lots of contenders like the mice from Corsair. The latest Surface 1030 XL can be picked up for about 36 Euros, while the L (smaller version) is available for about 31 Euros.
Overall, we were pleased with the new Func products introduced and we really look forward to a white MS-3 sporting a white glossy surface.
We would like to thankagain to Func for making this review possible!